Earthbound Farm sale hits dead end

Earthbound Farm has ended its search for a buyer after five months, according to a report in the New York Post.

Barclays was hired in May to sell the San Juan Bautista, Calif.-based organic grower-shipper, Reuters reported at the time. Earthbound Farm did not confirm or deny that it was up for sale. The company could not immediately be reached for comment on the new report.

Through Barclays Earthbound was asking for about $637.5 million, according to the Post, but potential buyers thought $562.5 million was more reasonable. It’s the difference between 8.5 and 7.5 times annual earnings of $75 million.

In July 2012, Bolthouse Foods was acquired by Campbell Soup Co. for $1.6 billion, about 11 times earnings.

Its investors include Dallas-based private equity firm Kainos Capital. The firm is run by executives from HM Capital’s food and consumer products group. HM Capital acquired about 70% of Earthbound Farm in July 2009.